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Issue 393 - November 4h - November 11th - Expressly created for 11.897 wine lovers,
professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world |
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The piece of art evokes a draped fabric but is realized in ceramic, reflecting the tradition of the Tuscan pottery. Now it has became the label of a great wine: Les Grandes is the work by Sonia Kacem, Swiss artist winner of the Premio Artisti Per Frescobaldi 2018, promoted by the historic family of Italian wine after a long tradition of cultural patronage that has its roots in the Renaissance with artists such as Brunelleschi and Donatello. The artworks - on display at the Gam-Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan until November 4, before enriching, with the bottles, the permanent collection of works of art in the cellar and in the vineyards of CastelGiocondo. |
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The forecasts have been correctly estimated, even more than the most optimistic expectations of the end of August. The 2018 harvest, which has now ended all over Italy, has led to an increase in the production of wines and musts in the wineries of 24% over the 2017 harvest, with increases in all regions, as the final results of Assoenologi reported, which considers the official data of the Ministry of Agriculture. The total production, however, reached 52.6 million hectolitres, perfectly in line with the average production of the Italian vineyard, which compensated for the sharp drop in the 2017 harvest, one of the lowest in the last fifty years, where the climatic events were accompanied by an unusual and exceptional intensity. Among the regions that recorded the greatest increase, Lazio and Umbria (+40% to 1.39 million hectolitres), but generally speaking, the greatest improvements were made by the vineyards of Central and Northern Italy, starting from Piedmont (+35% to 3.46 million hectolitres), Emilia Romagna (+28% to 8, 48 million hectolitres) also recorded good results, Lombardy (+25%, 1.32 million hectolitres), Veneto (+25% to 12.1 million hectolitres), by far the region with the largest production in quantitative terms of Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia (+25%, 1.9 million hectolitres), Tuscany (+25%, 2 million hectolitres) and Marche (+25%, 820.000 hectolitres). And again, Trentino Alto Adige (+23% to 1.66 million hl), Puglia (+20% to 9.75 million hl), Sicily (+20% to 4.9 million hl), Campania (+18% to 730,000 hl), Abruzzo (+15% to 3.1 million hl) and Sardinia (+10% to 390,000 hl). The positive numbers, however, brought up some critics, namely speculative dynamics on the bulk market focused on reducing prices, criticized by the Assoenologi organization, who points out that “not only is it inappropriate, but also incorrect that some operators in the wine industry speculate on the increase in the production in order to reduce the price of wines of the 2018 vintage. This is not the first time it happens, probably not even the last time, but the Assoenologi association will always be in front line to communicate the truth in order to defend the interest of producers”. |
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Wine imports in 2018 in the United States, the world’s leading wine market as well as Italy’s number one partner, are continuing to decline. According to data the Italy Wine & Food Institute has released, based on information from the US Department of Commerce, in the first 9 months of the year there was a significant slowdown in volumes (-7.9%, to 6.4 million hectoliters), while values continued to rise, +5% compared to 2017, for 3.3 billion dollars). And, Italy is no exception, although it still holds the title of market leader in the still bottled wines segment, despite 3.3% less in volume (to 1.8 million hectoliters), which however is offset by +4.1 % in value (for 1.03 billion US dollars). The real star on the American market continues to be France, which has grown 9.5% in quantity (1.03 million liters) and an impressive +19.7% in value (for 981 million US dollars).
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James Suckling is one of the most influential critics and for years the signature of “Wine Spectator”, the expert is still a reference point for wine-lovers, especially with his scores, at the base of the “Top 100 Wines of 2018”. In the lead, from Bordeaux, Château Canon St. Emilion 2015, while Italy in the top 10 is represented by two “perfect” wines, 100/100: at no. 8 the Scrio 2015 of Le Macchiole and at no. 9 the Solaia 2015 of Marchesi Antinori. 17 Italian labels in all in the top 100: Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2015 (16), Podere Poggio Scalette Alta Valle Della Greve Il Carbonaione 2015 (18), Fattoria Le Pupille Maremma Toscana Saffredi 2016 (22), Tenuta Sette Ponti Toscana Oreno 2016 (25), Duemani Syrah Costa Toscana Suisassi 2016 (31), Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2014 (34), Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista Gran Selezione 2015 (35), Damilano Barolo Cannubi Riserva 1752 2010 (54), Montevetrano Colli di Salerno 2016 (60), Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Berardo Riserva 2015 (64), Tua Rita Toscana Redigaffi 2016 (77), Foradori Teroldego Vigneti Delle Dolomiti Granato 2016 (84), Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2013 (87), Eredi Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012 (89) and Masseto 2015 (97). |
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There was less wine on the market but it was sold at higher prices; therefore, between June 2017 and June 2018, the world wine trade hit a new record, for a total value in exports reaching 31.4 billion euros, and 4.5% growth compared to the previous year, while volumes rose 2.8%, reaching 10.7 billion liters, and an average price, taking into consideration still and sparkling wines as well as bulk wines, which was confirmed at 2.94 euros per liter. These data come from the Observatorio Español del Mercado del Vino. |
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The Restaurant of the Year, is the LuMi, overlooking the bay of Sydney, the kingdom of chef Federico Zanellato, the Chef of the Year is Michele Farnesi, formed at the Osteria Francescana. The Opening of the Year is Don Alfonso in Toronto, the new address of the Iaccarino family in the world, after Macao and New Zealand, with chef Daniele Corona in the kitchen, and over 700 references in the cellar. These are some of the Special Prizes of the Top Italian Restaurants 2019, edition no. 2 of the online guide of Gambero Rosso to the best Italian restaurants in the world (500 from over 35 countries). And among them there is also the Wine List of the Year, of the Osteria del Becco in Mexico City, with a a caveau of only Italian bottles, 30,000 labels from the post-war period to date. |
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The prices of the most expensive wines are growing around the world. According to the reference portal, “Wine-Searcher” ranking, updated at the end of October 2018, at the very top there is, as always, the legendary Burgundy, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti Grand Cru: 19.052 US dollars per bottle. For Italy the number one most expensive wine is Masseto (645 euros), followed by Case Basse of Gianfranco Soldera (502 euros) and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva of Tenuta Greppo di Biondi Santi (486 euros). |
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